Re: [Usability]Pointer shape in terminals

[Tony Houghton <gnome realh co uk>]

In <200210221441 g9MEfYpS014375 express cec wustl edu>, Adam D. Lopresto wrote:

> 
> > I agree about the recognition of the I-beam, but we could also ask
> > whether it was ever a good design in the first place. Maybe it would be
> > best to change it more subtly. I assume the active point is at its
> > centre, so perhaps it could be indicated by having something like a
> > little loop or notch there.
> 
> I think the reason it's an I-beam is that it's supposed to be easier to select
> text: you put the top of the beam above the text, the bottom below, and you
> drag the vertical part across. 

The trouble with that is it depends on the text being a certain size.

> Just the other day I was playing on a friend's MacOS X (mmmmmm) and it
> had an interesting thing that might be the answer to your problems:
> the I-beam cursor had a small line through the center, making the
> middle almost a crosshair (actually it was a little curved, so it
> looked a bit like }{ squeezed to overlapping).  Wish I could find a
> screenshot.  Anyway, it helped identify the active point, and I think
> something like that would be acceptable as a default to help everyone
> (unless it's considered just added visual clutter).

Sounds good, that's the sort of thing I had in mind above.

Maybe the themes are the answer (see Havoc's message), even if noone
else designs a theme I really like, I can just pick my favourite and
modify it. And an alpha-blended pointer sounds gorgeous :-). How long
before MS copy it and get praised for their innovation?

-- 
TH * http://www.realh.co.uk